Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Resilient Environment Division: Natural Resources Division
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution, the title of which is as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING CURRENT AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING BROWARD COUNTY AGENCIES, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, AND WATER SUPPLIERS, TO PURSUE PARTICIPATION IN AND INCREASE THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE NATURESCAPE IRRIGATION SERVICE AND THE RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION REBATE PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD 2025 THROUGH 2030; DIRECTING THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE DISTRIBUTED AS SET FORTH HEREIN; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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Why Action is Necessary
Formal Board approval is necessary for the adoption of a Resolution.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the adoption of the Resolution.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, THE NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION, AND THE BROWARD COUNTY WATER ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board’s goal of Resilient Community, “ensuring accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure and environmental protection.”
Support for this Resolution provides expression of the County’s continued endorsement of coordinated water conservation efforts on a county-wide basis, and support for a new five-year interlocal agreement to maintain delivery of the NatureScape Irrigation Service and Residential Irrigation Rebate programs by Broward County and local municipal and water utility partners.
On December 6, 2005, Broward County and 21 municipal and water utility partners entered into an interlocal agreement providing for an initial five-year partnership and cost-share funding to launch and operate an urban mobile irrigation lab, aka NatureScape Irrigation Service (NIS).
The NIS partnership was renewed on April 13, 2010, for a second five-year term, with the participation of 18 municipal and water utility partners. In spring 2015 (March 17, April 14, and May 5, 2015, Commission meetings) a third five-year term was approved with the participation of 19 municipal and water utility partners.
In 2019, the County pilot-tested the Residential Irrigation Rebate Program (RIRP), distributing 60 rebates to residents for irrigation system upgrades and providing education and guidance on efficient landscape irrigation practices. The applications for rebates under the pilot program well-exceeded the pilot program capacity, revealing a significant opportunity and need for a more sustained residential irrigation program component for the public.
On May 19, 2020, Broward County and 17 municipal and water utility partners entered into an interlocal agreement for a fourth five-year term that included optional participation in the RIRP.
The current five-year ILA supporting the NIS and RIRP expires at the end of the 2025 calendar year. This county-wide program has been long-endorsed by the Water Advisory Board and its Technical Advisory Committee as an effective and measurable means of achieving water demand reductions and meeting water conservation goals associated with the consumptive use permits.
On November 8, 2024, the Water Advisory Board to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners expressed support for continuation of the NIS and RIRP and urged renewed funding by existing and potential partners in 2025 and voted to transmit this resolution to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners for adoption.
The NIS is modeled after the State’s Mobile Irrigation Lab program and focuses on large municipal and professionally managed properties where the potential for achieving significant water savings is greatest. To date, participants implementing NIS recommendations saved nearly 1.7 billion gallons of water and an average 20% reduction in water savings per site assessed. This continued partnership supports the water resource strategies detailed in the County’s Climate Change Action Plan and the objectives of the County-wide Integrated Water Resources Plan.
Source of Additional Information
Monica Pognon, Director, Natural Resources Division, (954) 519-1476.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None.